Film classics at Cinemark this summer

What do the classic films The Exorcist, Cool Hand Luke and A Clockwork Orange all have in common? If you guessed, “a failure to communicate,” then you’d be correct. If you guessed that they are all part of Cinemark’s Summer Classics Film Series running this June and July, you’d also be spot on.

The “Summer Classics Series” features eight legendary films, all digitally restored from the Warner Bros. film catalog. It’s a great opportunity for movie-lovers to revisit some of the greatest films of all time and experience them as they were meant to be seen – on the big screen.

Each film in the series has been fully restored and will be shown with crystal clear digital projection and incredible surround sound. Cinemark has worked with Warner Bros. to select titles that were visionary films at their time of release and stand today as true “classics” in every sense of the word.

The films are scheduled to play, one for each Wednesday, during the months of June – July, at two separate show times of 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The movies are currently scheduled as follows below, but please check with the valley’s only Cinemark location, at 1051 N. Dobson Road in Mesa, for up-to-date information on show times.

June 6 – The Exorcist (1973), Rated R
In 1973, after watching this movie, many people left the theater thinking they were possessed and had frightening physical reactions after seeing the film. The Exorcist became an instant classic and one of the most disturbing movies ever made.

June 13 – Citizen Kane (1941), Rated PG
Orson Welles was only 26 years old when he wrote, directed and starred in this classic that is widely regarded as the best film ever made. Citizen Kane is a must-see for film fans, film students, or anyone serious about the craft of making movies.

June 20 – Cool Hand Luke (1967), Rated PG
Long before he was famous for salad dressing, Paul Newman was one of Hollywood’s all-time greatest actors, and Cool Hand Luke was one his greatest roles. If you’ve ever heard anyone say, “What we’ve got here… is failure to communicate;” this movie is where that famous line came from.

June 27 – The Searchers (1956), Rated PG
Actor John Wayne and director John Ford are two names who are synonymous with classic, iconic American western films; and The Searchers is a big reason why. Considered the greatest western ever made, The Searchers has incredible cinematography and it’s “the Duke” at his full-swagger best.

July 4 – That’s Entertainment (1974), Rated G
If you love musicals, then That’s Entertainment is one you can’t miss. This movie combines the best bits from 50 years worth of MGM Studios’ song & dance classics into one non-stop musicalgasm.

July 11 – A Clockwork Orange (1971), Rated RA Clockwork Orange is Stanley Kubrick’s vision of a sociopathic dystopian future. Like most of Director Kubrick’s work, you’ll either love or hate this movie. When it was in theaters in 1971, it was so disturbing that the director actually had the film withdrawn from release, but it has since gained cult status and now is your chance to see it on the big screen.

July 18 – North By Northwest (1959), Not Rated
Out of an amazing catalogue of thrillers including Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window and Vertigo; North by Northwest is considered director Alfred Hitchcock’s best film. NBN stars the legendary Cary Grant and if you’ve never seen a Hitchcock film before, then plan to make it to this one.

July 25 – Cabaret (1972), Rated PG
In the role that made her a star, Liza Minnelli stars as Sally Bowles in the classic musical film, Cabaret. Set in 1930s Berlin, the movie tells the story of a lover’s triangle set during the rise of Nazi Germany. The film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Director (Bob Fosse) and Best Actress for Liza Minnelli. If you love movies with great dancing and music numbers, then add this one to your list (together with That’s Entertainment – see above.)